IPAD Project

Peripheral Arterial Disease: When Fighting Pain with Pain Can Be Beneficial!

Walking just a few dozen meters before intense pain appears is the reality for many people suffering from peripheral arterial disease (PAD). It is caused by the accumulation of plaques in the blood vessels, reducing the amount of blood, and therefore oxygen, that can reach the leg muscles. As a result, individuals with PAD experience pain and cramps that only subside when they stop walking, which can be quite limiting.

Fortunately, it has been shown that physical exercise is highly effective in reducing the severity of symptoms, especially when supervised by trained professionals. Unfortunately, there is no specific program aimed at treating PAD in hospitals in Quebec. To determine the feasibility of such an exercise program at the CIUSSS de l’Estrie – CHUS, doctors and a researcher have come together to carry out the IPAD project. The participants sought are those with symptomatic peripheral arterial disease (PAD), who will be recruited at the vascular medicine clinic (CIUSSS de l’Estrie-CHUS). They will be invited to train under supervision at the Centre for Research on Aging three times a week for three months. They will have the opportunity to train by walking on a treadmill under supervision, following a protocol specific to the disease. The team will assess feasibility through various factors, including recruitment, participation, and adherence rates to the prescribed exercise program, as well as the program's overall evaluation.